Reconcili-action’: Hamilton advocates urge Indigenous council seat – The Hamilton Spectator

June 11, 2024

Advisory role suggested as interim measure as elected position pursued.

A new advisory position could represent Indigenous perspectives at city council while a trail is blazed toward an Indigenous-specific elected seat in Hamilton.

That’s what a local consultation group suggests as they urge city politicians to pursue the longer-term goal of adding an Indigenous member to the 16-member decision-making table.

Circle of Beads recognizes the creation of a council seat to represent urban Indigenous city residents won’t happen overnight and will require changes in provincial legislation that regulates municipal governance.

“However, there are things that can be implemented in the interim while we’re doing that work,” co-chair NaWalka Geeshy Meegwun, who is also known as Lyndon George, said during a news conference Monday.

Read More: https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/reconcili-action-hamilton-advocates-urge-indigenous-council-seat/article_282bc801-0b74-5e25-b927-ad42e5ea008e.html